Game



March 30,1926.

F. P. HOLMAN GAME Filed March 29, 1924 Patented Mar. 30, 1926.

UN lT'ED; STATES FRANK P. HOLMAN, or HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT.

GAME;

Application filed March 29, 1924. Serial No. 702,820.

that class of indoor games in which the players are arranged around a table upon which the game is placed, and an object of my invention, among others, is to provide a game of this class that shall be highly entertaining and that shall embody the combined elements of skill and chance.

One "form of device embodying my inven tion and in the construction and use of which the objects herein set out, as well as others, may be attained,-is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating the mechanical element of my improved game. 7

Figure 2 is a view in section on a plane denoted by the dotted line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a detail view illustrating the method of attachment of a cord to the player t or ball.

re is a view of one of the player ca ds in full size scale.

Figures 5, 6 and 7 are views 01 fragments of the player cart s, scale reduced.

Figures 8, 9, l0, l1 and 12 are views of gnrents of the draw cards, scale reduced. Figure 13 is a view of a fragment of the prize ard, scale reduced;

The mechanical element of my improvedgame comprises aboard B provided with nuans for determining the disposition of the cards in several sets that are employed in connection with the board in playing the game. A main supporting post 10 rises from the board at about its center, and a ball ll-is connected with said post by aflexible connection 12 in such manner that the ball may be caused to revolve about the post. 'The board 13 is marked oil as a field, with preferably a circular boundary line, and this field is divided into sections 13, each section occupying substantially a quarter of the entire circular field, and as shown in Figure 1. A stake 1st is placed in each field rising from the board substantially in the center of the field, these stakes being all alike and being somewhat shorter than the main supporting post 10. In addition to the stakes each field is provided with three pockets, a players pocket 15, an adversarys pocket 16 and a prize pocket 17, the latter being located substantially between the stake and the central post and the players and adversarys pockets being arranged on opposite sides of the stake. T he'prize pocket is preferably markedwitha character 18 to correspond with the character on a prize card, to be hereinafter described, as shown herein this character being in the conventional form ota head. I 1

In its preferred form the board herei: above described is composed of two parts, a base or under part 19 that is formed from stitl' pasteboard, wood or other suitable material, and the upper part 20 that may also be composed oi pasteboard or any other suitable material, the upper part, as shown herein, preferably being. thin as compared with the base. This base is preferably dividedat its crosswise center, the two portions. being united by a hinge 21 so that they may be folded, one part upon the other. The base is provided with a hole 22 at about its center and the upper part of the base. is provided with a hole 23, the latter hole being of somewhat smaller diameter than the hole in the. base, but registering therewith and thereby constituting a shouldered opening through the base at its center. The post 10 is secured atits lower end to a flanged support 25%, the flange 25 on which engages within the shouldered opening hereinabove descri l'ied, and as shown in Figure 2, it being noted from this construction that wl'ren the board is set up the central post is inserted through the board from the under side and when the boardis placed in position, as upon the top of the table, the post is securely held in pl ce. Similarly each of the stakes 14 have tlangzjed supports 26 engaging within a. shouldered opening 27 in the board, as shown in Figure 2 of the drawings, and as above described with respect to the central post. The pockets 15-16,17 are preferably formed by cutting th ough the upper portion 520 only at the board, the lower portion 19 forming the bottom of each pocket, and as shown in Figure 2 of the drawings.

In playing the gan'ie the stakes 14 are intended to catch the connection 12 and thus obstruct the movement of the ball ll,- and in order to make this catching of the con nection by the stakes uncertain, a gyratory movement is given to the point of attachl fl 0 ment ofthe connection 12 to the ball, and

as illustrated in Figure 3 in which a finger 281s extended from the ball and the connection 12 is secured to this extension. As

the ball rolls around the board this gyratory movement may cause the cord, when slack ened into a loop, to be thrown over a stake tainty that the cord willcatch upon a stake next section green.

catching. V V

In connection with the board I make use 7 this action at the opportune time will throw the loopv over j the stake and prevent its of three sets'of cards, to wit, player cards, draw cards and the prize card; The player cards consist of four suits 293031,32, each suit comprising six cards.

The cards of ,each suit bear designating characters 33343536, said characters being all different and said characters being colored to correspond with adesignated color of one of the sections of the field, this color of the field being designated by the base of the stake located therein, such as red, blue, yellow and green, and the. top of the post- 10 may also bear these colors in sections that are divided for it, as shown in'Figure 1,

said sectionsbeing separated by shoulders and the top being colored red, the next sec tion-blue, the next section yellow, and the The cards in each suit are numbered, and this number ma'y be'determined bythe color, as 10 for the lower color (green) onthe post, for the next highest color (yellow) on the post, for the next highest color (blue) on the post, and for the highest color (red) on the st; 1 As an aid in readily determining the player and adversary pockets, and also the number of points peculiar to such pockets, a numeral designating the number of points peculiar to the pocket may be placed on the bottom thereof, this numeral bearing a designating color as red for the player pocket and black for the adversary pocket.

In Figure 4: a card has been shown of approximately full size with the characters thereon, and it will be understood that the cards shown in Figures 5, 6, and 7 havethe same general arrangement as that shown in Figure 4, that is'the characters shown on these cards is reproduced at the opposite end of the card.

The draw cards in the game, as'shown, comprise five suits 37?)8 f89@0' 4c1 of two cards to each suit, each card having a designating character l2l3'4l41546 and these cards that are incompletely shown in Figures 8 to 12, in their complete form will embody the character shown 'at the opposite end of the card, and as illustrated by the card shown in Figure 4;. In the preferred form ofthe game four suits of these draw cards will correspond in color to the fields on the board, it being of advantage to the player to hold either playeror draw cards of the color corresponding to the field possessed by such'player. others that shall be employed may have any desired color.

The prize card 47 is of the same general arrangement as to characters thereon as are of the field, as yellow, red, green and blue.

As an example for playing the game four players will sit, one opposite each field. The playeropposite thefield marked Dealer will shuttle and deal all of the player cards so that each player will have six cards.

The game is finishedwhen one player first secures six cards of the same suit. Then the dealer'shufl-les the; draw cards and places them inla pack upon the'board face down,

and the prize card is placed on top of this pack, face up. 7 7

One card is placed by each player face upon the board. It may be assumed that this will be one of the cardscof which the,

player has the least. The dealer now takes the ball and swings it at the end of its connection toward the left. In order to count the ball must pass beyond the field located at the left of the dealerfand must not come to rest in the dealers own field.

If the ball comes to rest in a field beyond that at the left of the dealer the player cards face up upon the board in front of the dealer and the possessor of the field in'which the ball is located are exchanged and the exchanged cardsmay be placed in the hands of the dealer or player and other cards placed face'up on the board, or the exchanged cards may be placed face up upon the board as the holder of such cards may elect. r p

If the ball comes to rest around a stake and in a pocket marked with ared 2, this being the pocket at the left of the stake, two points are added to the score of the possessor of the field, and the players exchange cards as above described. If the ball comes to rest around astake and in a pocket mark-ed with a black 2, this being the pocket at the right of the stake, two points are added to the score of the player who threw the ball, and the players exchange cards as above described.

If the ball comes to rest around a stake in a prize pocket the deal-er, who threw the ball, may take the top or prize card from thepile of draw cardsyandthis card is The fifth suit and aramie placed face up on the boardin front of the I dealer, or the dealer-may take any card on the board inthe field in which the-ball came to rest, or, if hcd-esires, he may'take another turn. Y i

.Theprize card which is drawn first must be kept on. theboard during theplaying and may be taken by "another player, but it counts only on the score or". the player who holds it atthe call of the game; The. next player to the left of the dealer now takes-the 1 ball and swingsit to the left and the directions above given apply to the second and successive players with the exception that it the ball comes to rest. in the prize pocket the player who threw the ball may hazve the choiceof taking the topcard from thedr 'azw '.'the prize card, but in this case the player" vice shown is only illustrative and that the invention may be carried out by other means said element to reach all of said fields, and;

' claim 1 pack, the draw card ofthe player inwhose field the balltcame to rest,ifsuch player has acdraw card, or he mayI eX-change: player 7 cards, or he may take another'turn. f It'the Q ball'comes-to restin the prizeffield of the player possessing the prize card the. player.

. who threw the ball may, in addition to the steps above noted, have a choice of taking cards'ar'einot exchanged; p

The player-who first securessix cardsof the same suit' announces'this fact and the game is finished.

In accordance with the pro-visionsof the patent statutes I have described the principles' ofoperation of my invention, together with the device which I now. consider torepresent the best embodiment thereof; but I desire to have it understood that'the deand applied touse-s other than those above set out.

1. A game board divided into field sections,

one for each player, a supportingpost, a rolling element connected with said post bya flexible connection of a length to'enable a pocket located in the upper surface ofeach of saidfields to permit said element to roll into it.

2. A game board divided equally into field sections, one for each player,-a supporting post positioned in the same relative location to all of said fields, a rolling element connected with said post by a flexible connection of a length to enable-said element to reach all of said fields, and. a pocket located in the uppers-urface of eachof said fields to permit said element to roll into it.

3. A game board divided' into field s ec-. tions, one for each player, a supporting post,; a rolling element connected with said. post by a flexible connection of a length to enable said element to reach-all of said fields, a

pocket located in each of said fields to r ecelve said element, and a stake rising from ment ofsa-i-d connection.

each; .otsaifd fields: as an obstruction to move 7 nection,- s'aid stakes al'lbeingof substantially the samelength and shorter than said sup portingpost-i v 5.. Aig me ot said fieldjand: a. pocket in each of. saidfields. to receive said elemcntas an. advantage to the player manipulating said element.

6. A game "board divided into fields, one toreach player, a supporting post, a rolling 7 element connected with: said. post by a fienible connection of a length to enable said element'to reach an ofsaid. fields, a stake rising-from each of said fields tlSitVil obstructi'onv to forward? movement of said connection,-v a playe1" s"p0cket in each of said fields to receive said element'asan advantageto' the-possessor 'of said field after movement of said-element-has been stopped by contact of said connection vviththestakein the field in which said element came toriest; and'a play ers pocket-locatedYin each of said fieldsto receive said element as:- an advantage-to the player manipulating said elementafter its movement has been stopped byv contact of said connection. with the stake in" the field in which said "element came to. rest.

boardw'divided into field fs'ec-., tifons, onezfor each. player, a supportingpost, a rolling-element connected with said post by 1 Iafiexible connection of a length to. enable said element toireacl'r .avllzot saidfields, a pocket in-each of'said' fields to: receive said 'element'asian advantage to thelpossessor 7 4i. Agameboarddivided field sect-ions, one for each playeig a supporting post ris-.

21A game board divided into fieldsec- I t-ions; one for each-playe ga supporting post,

a rolling elementiconnected withsaid post by a flexible connection of a lengtlitolenablc said element to r each allr of said} fields, a plz'i yer s pocketfin each ot saidifields to receive: said" elen ient asan advantage to the possessor of: said: field, a .playerspocket in each of saidxfieltlsto receive said; element asan advantage to-the manipulator of'saidaelemen-t, andra prize :pocket in each of said fields to. receive said/element as a greater advantage to; theplayer; n1a11i1'nilating':-saicl element. r v

a 8. A game board-formed: of two pieces of material secured together,- eachof said pieces having an 'openinge registering with the opening. in the: other piece, one of'saidopenings being smaller than the other opening 'to form a shoulder, and-a post-rising from said board and havinga base resting against the shoulder formed by said'openings.

9. A game board formed of two pieces of material secured together and each having an opening registering With the opening in the other piece, said opening in the bottom piece being larger in diameter than the open ing in the upper piece to form a shouldered opening extending through the board, and a post having abasewith a flange located in said larger opening and in engagement with said shoulder to prevent movement of the base upwardly through said opening.

10. A game board divided into fields, one for each player, a pocket located in each of said fields, a'set of cards divided intosuits, each comprising a plurality of cards, each suit having a definite relation to one of said fields, and a player element adapted to be received in said pockets to the disposition of said cards.

11. A game board divided into-fields, one for each player, apocket locatedin each of said fields, a set of cards divided into suits, each suit-comprising a plurality of cards, each suit bearing a charactershowing its relation to one of said fields, and a player element adapted to be received in said pockets tothereby determine the disposition ofsaid cards.

a 12. A game board divided into fields, one for each player, a plurality of pockets in each field of the same positive and negative value as to the possessor of said field, a set of cards divided. into suits, each suit having a definite relation to one of saidfields,and

' a player element adapted to be received in said pockets to thereby determine the disposition of said cards. Y V

13. A game board divided into fields, one for each player, a pocket located in each of said fields, a set of cards divided into suits,

each suit having a definite relation to one or said fields, a second pocket in each of said fields, a second set of cards bearing a definite relation to said second pockets, and a player element adapted to bereceived in said pockets to thereby determine the disposition of said cards.

14. A game board divided into fields, one for each player, a pocket located in each of said fields, a set of cards divided into suits, each suit having a definite relation to one of said fields, a second pocket located in each of said fields, a secondv set of cards bearing characters determining its relation to one of said fields, and a player element adapted to be received in said pockets to thereby determine the dispositionof said cards.

15. A game board divided into fields, one for each player, a pocket located in each of said fields, aset of cards divided into suits, each suit comprising a plurality of cards,

thereby determine pocket located in each of said fields, and a player element adapted tobe received in said pockets to thereby determine the disposition of said cards. 7

17. A game board divided into fields, one for each player,: a pocket in each of said fields, a set of cards divided into suits, each suit comprising a pluralityiot cards each suithaving a definite relation to one of said fields a )riZe card bearin a definite reladivided into field, one

tion'with respect tosaid pocket,and a player element adapted to be receivedin said pock- "ets to thereby determine the disposition of said cards. Y

.7 18.. A game board comprising afield, a 7

post rising from said field, a ball, a-finger projecting from one side of said ball, an

obstruction in said field and a flexible con-'- nection extending from the end of said finger to the top of said post to impart a gyratory.

movement to the end of said finger to throvv said connection over said obstruction.) Y

19. A game board having a supporting post rising therefrom,- a rolling element connected with said post by a flexible connection, pockets located in said board to receive said element, and a stake rising from said board as an obstruction to movement of said connection. Y

.ZO/A game post rising therefrom, a rolling elementconnected With said post at or near the top thereof by a fiexiblelcon'nection, pockets located in the upper surface of said board, and

stakes rising from the upper surface or" said board appurtenant to said pockets andas an obstruction to movement of said connection, said stakes all being of substantially the same length and shorter than saidsupporting post. V

21. A game board having a supporting post rising tl'ieretroin, a rolling element connected With said post by a flexible connection, and sets of pockets in the upper surface of said board for each player, one pocket of each set to receive said rolling element as an advantage to the possessor of said pocket, and another pocket of each set to receive said element as an advantage to the player manipulating said element, said connection being of a length to enable said rolling element to reach all of said pockets.

FRANK r. Hora ran.

board having" a supporting 

